Watering Tomatoes in Growbags.

[tim]

Excepting the really hot spells, how much do you give them & how often?

[tim]

[davyw1]

TIM, I was always taught to never give your tomato,s more than 2 pints of water on the hottest days and water every day. I prefer to water in the evening so the sun takes nothing away from them and to keep buckets of water in the greenhouse to create humidity.

[Sigsy]

I have been watering mine about an inch of water every 3rd day and feeding once a week.
Unless the compost looks and feels particularly dry.

[tim]

An inch = ? litres??

And is that each plant?

[Sigsy]

Sorry, by an Inch i meant

No idea how much in volume that is, but by doing this every three days it tends to keep the compost nice and evenly moist, not soaked.

And yes that's for each plant.   ;D

[davyw1]

I grow ring culture style so the soil around the plant is built up around the stem like a pyramid. When i water i do it around the outside of the pot but when i feed i do it around the inside of the pot. I also remove all the foliage up to the first truss.

[Sigsy]

Why do you remove the foliage?

Is this something you would reccomend?

I might start watering the bag instead of the pot, as I have read that it helps train secondary roots.

[tim]

Thanks, Sigsy. Would still like to know what that quantity is.

And since that's 'ring culture' style, should the water not go in the bottom & the feed in the top - as Davy says?

They look mighty healthy done your way!

[tim]

Snap! We crossed in mid-air!

Removing foliage which has done its job aids ventilation & gives access for watering.

[Sigsy]

Just before I go ahead and decimate my entire crop  :o  ;),
I thought I'd best check

It's just a simple process of starting at the bottom and snipping off every branch of leaves until I get to a truss?

How close to the stem should I be a'snippin?

Do I snip only yellowed leaves or full healthy looking green ones also?
What do you mean by "Foliage which has done it's job"?

Sorry to go off topic and barrage with questions,
but for a first timer its a horrifying thought   :-\  :)

[Chris Graham]

Just before I go ahead and decimate my entire crop  :o  ;),
I thought I'd best check

It's just a simple process of starting at the bottom and snipping off every branch of leaves until I get to a truss?

How close to the stem should I be a'snippin?

For a first timer its a horrifying thought   :-\  :)

I would be interested in hearing more about this, can anyone else add to this topic?

[tim]

Once again, I am NOT the expert in this, & there is NO NEED to disrobe, but I do believe that taking off the leaves when they start looking grotty can do what I said - & help keep things clean & divert energy upwards?

I remove by bending upwards at the stem junction where they should break clean.

[Marymary]

[I[/quote]

I would be interested in hearing more about this, can anyone else add to this topic?
[/quote]

Made me laugh Chris.  ;D

[davyw1]

SIGSY. There is nothing horrifying really, its just that its possibly the first time you have heard of it so one thinks is that right or is it wrong.
I will get a photo or two tomorrow and show you trusses with as many as 24  flowers on that have the foliage removed bellow.
What you do is take of two every couple of days by snapping the leaf stem upwards where it is growing out of the plant and removing it ( remember snap UPWARDS not down).
The removal of the lower leaves allows ventilation between plants and they are not taking feed away from the tomato as Tim says.
Remember only two at a time every couple of days. You can snip them of i just put the method i use above

[Sigsy]

Great thanks for that  :)

[Chris Graham]

[I

I would be interested in hearing more about this, can anyone else add to this topic?
[/quote]

Made me laugh Chris.  ;D
[/quote]

?   :)

[pye]

Chris please please post your naked tom pics again, they did make me giggle last year.  :D

[tim]

Sigsy - didn't answer your question.

I meant those that have contributed to the growth of the plant but are now looking 'beyond it' - limp, yellowing or otherwise sickly. Usually the bottom 2 leaves.

[Sigsy]

Thanks Tim,

Back to your original question, I measured it out yesterday when I watered,
It's about 1/2 litre each plant, with 3 plants in growbag so 1 1/2 litres per growbag overall - give or take  ;)

[Chris Graham]

oh hehehehe, yeh yeh i know slight newbi activity went on last year, but i now know what I'm doing.

Ok ok here is the pic again!   ;)

I'll never let this one down will i  ;)